CVE-2025-43468: 
macOS vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-43468 is a code-signing downgrade vulnerability in the AppleMobileFileIntegrity component of macOS, affecting Intel-based Mac computers. A downgrade issue allows a locally installed app to bypass code-signing restrictions and access sensitive user data without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability was disclosed on November 3, 2025, and is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (Medium) (Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Tahoe Advisory).

The vulnerability is rooted in improper verification of cryptographic signatures (CWE-347) within the AppleMobileFileIntegrity subsystem, which is responsible for enforcing code-signing policies on macOS. A downgrade attack allows an app to circumvent the additional code-signing restrictions that Apple enforces on Intel-based Macs, effectively tricking the system into accepting a less-restrictive or older signing policy. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction, making it suitable for use by a malicious app already installed on the system. The vulnerability was discovered and reported by Mickey Jin (@patch1t) (Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Sonoma Advisory).

Successful exploitation allows a low-privileged local application to access sensitive user data that would otherwise be protected by macOS's code-signing and integrity enforcement mechanisms. The impact is limited to confidentiality — there is no integrity or availability impact — but the exposed data could include personal files, credentials, or other protected user information. The vulnerability is scoped to Intel-based Mac computers running affected versions of macOS Sonoma (before 14.8.2) and macOS Sequoia (before 15.7.2) (Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Sequoia Advisory).

There is no public proof-of-concept exploit or evidence of active in-the-wild exploitation for CVE-2025-43468 at this time. The EPSS score is approximately 0.018%, reflecting a very low probability of exploitation in the near term. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges, which limits the attack surface compared to remotely exploitable vulnerabilities (Apple Sonoma Advisory, Feedly).

Apple has released patches addressing this vulnerability in macOS Sonoma 14.8.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.1, all released on November 3, 2025. Users should update their Intel-based Mac systems to one of these versions immediately via System Settings > Software Update. As interim measures, administrators should implement strict controls on application installations, limit local user privileges, and regularly review system security settings (Apple Sonoma Advisory, Apple Sequoia Advisory, Apple Tahoe Advisory).

The SANS Internet Storm Center covered the November 2025 Apple security updates, which included CVE-2025-43468 among numerous fixes (SANS ISC). The Center for Internet Security (CIS) issued an advisory noting multiple vulnerabilities in Apple products patched in this release cycle (CIS Advisory). The Times of India also reported on government warnings urging Apple device users to update their systems promptly in response to the batch of vulnerabilities addressed in these releases.